New American Standard Bible 1995

Deuteronomy 20

Laws of Warfare

1“WhenH3588you goתֵצֵ֨אte.Tze'H3318out to battleלַמִּלְחָמָ֜הla.mil.cha.MahH4421againstעַל־'al-H5921your enemiesH340and seeוְֽרָאִ֜יתָve.ra.'I.taH7200horsesס֤וּסsusH5483and chariotsוָרֶ֙כֶב֙va.Re.khevH7393andpeopleעַ֚ם'amH5971moreH7227numerousH7227thanמִמְּךָ֔mi.me.KhaH4480you,do not be afraidתִירָ֖אti.Ra'H3372of them; for the Lordיְהוָ֤הYah.wehH3068your Godאֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙'e.lo.Hei.khaH430,whoH834broughtהַמַּֽעַלְךָ֖ha.ma.'al.KhaH5927you up from the landמֵאֶ֥רֶץme.'E.retzH776of Egyptמִצְרָֽיִם׃mitz.Ra.yimH4714, is with you.

2When you are approachingכְּקָֽרָבְכֶ֖םke.ka.ra.ve.KhemH7126the battleהַמִּלְחָמָ֑הha.mil.cha.MahH4421,the priestהַכֹּהֵ֖ןha.ko.HenH3548shall comeH5066nearH5066and speakוְדִבֶּ֥רve.di.BerH1696to the peopleהָעָֽם׃ha.'AmH5971.

3He shall sayוְאָמַ֤רve.'a.MarH559to them, ‘Hearשְׁמַ֣עshe.Ma'H8085,O Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478,you are approachingH7126the battleלַמִּלְחָמָ֖הla.mil.cha.MahH4421againstעַל־'al-H5921your enemiesH340todayהַיּ֛וֹםhai.YomH3117.Do not be faintheartedיֵרַ֣ךְ לְבַבְכֶ֗םye.Rakh le.vav.KhemH7401 H3824.Do not be afraidתִּֽירְא֧וּti.re.'UH3372,or panicתַּחְפְּז֛וּtach.pe.ZuH2648,or trembleתַּֽעַרְצ֖וּta.'ar.TzuH6206beforeמִפְּנֵיהֶֽם׃mi.pe.nei.HemH4480 H6440them,

4for the Lordיְהוָ֣הYah.wehH3068your Godאֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם'e.lo.hei.KhemH430is the one who goesהַהֹלֵ֖ךְha.ho.LekhH1980with you, to fightלְהִלָּחֵ֥םle.hi.la.ChemH3898for you againstH5973your enemiesH340,to saveלְהוֹשִׁ֥יעַle.ho.Shi.a'H3467you.’

5The officersהַשֹּֽׁטְרִים֮ha.sho.te.RimH7860also shall speakוְדִבְּר֣וּve.di.be.RuH1696to the peopleהָעָ֣םha.'AmH5971,sayingלֵאמֹר֒le.MorH559, ‘Whoמִֽי־mi-H4310is the manהָאִ֞ישׁha.'IshH376that has builtבָּנָ֤הba.NahH1129a newחָדָשׁ֙cha.DashH2319houseבַֽיִת־va.yit-H1004and has notdedicatedחֲנָכ֔וֹcha.na.KhoH2596it? Let him departיֵלֵ֖ךְye.LekhH1980and returnוְיָשֹׁ֣בve.ya.ShoH7725to his houseלְבֵית֑וֹle.vei.ToH1004,otherwiseפֶּן־pen-H6435he might dieיָמוּת֙ya.MutH4191in the battleבַּמִּלְחָמָ֔הba.mil.cha.MahH4421and anotherאַחֵ֖ר'a.CherH312manוְאִ֥ישׁve.'IshH376would dedicateיַחְנְכֶֽנּוּ׃yach.ne.Khe.nuH2596it.

6Whoוּמִֽי־u.mi-H4310is the manהָאִ֞ישׁha.'IshH376that has plantedנָטַ֥עna.Ta'H5193a vineyardכֶּ֙רֶם֙ke.remH3754and has notbegunH2490to useחִלְּל֔וֹchi.le.LoH2490its fruitH2490?Let him departיֵלֵ֖ךְye.LekhH1980and returnוְיָשֹׁ֣בve.ya.ShoH7725to his houseלְבֵית֑וֹle.vei.ToH1004,otherwiseפֶּן־pen-H6435he might dieיָמוּת֙ya.MutH4191in the battleבַּמִּלְחָמָ֔הba.mil.cha.MahH4421and anotherאַחֵ֖ר'a.CherH312manוְאִ֥ישׁve.'IshH376would beginH2490to useיְחַלְּלֶֽנּוּ׃ye.chal.le.Le.nuH2490its fruitH2490.

7And whoוּמִֽי־u.mi-H4310is the manהָאִ֞ישׁha.'IshH376that is engagedאֵרַ֤שׂ'e.RasH781to a womanאִשָּׁה֙'i.ShahH802and has notmarriedלְקָחָ֔הּle.ka.ChahH3947her? Let him departיֵלֵ֖ךְye.LekhH1980and returnוְיָשֹׁ֣בve.ya.ShoH7725to his houseלְבֵית֑וֹle.vei.ToH1004,otherwiseפֶּן־pen-H6435he might dieיָמוּת֙ya.MutH4191in the battleבַּמִּלְחָמָ֔הba.mil.cha.MahH4421and anotherאַחֵ֖ר'a.CherH312manוְאִ֥ישׁve.'IshH376would marryיִקָּחֶֽנָּה׃yi.ka.Che.nahH3947her.’

8Then the officersהַשֹּׁטְרִים֮ha.sho.te.RimH7860shall speakלְדַבֵּ֣רle.da.BerH1696furtherוְיָסְפ֣וּve.ya.se.FuH3254to the peopleהָעָם֒ha.'AmH5971and sayוְאָמְר֗וּve.'a.me.RuH559, ‘Whoמִי־mi-H4310is the manהָאִ֤ישׁha.'IshH376that is afraidH3372and faintheartedהַלֵּבָ֔בha.le.VavH7401 H3824?Let him departיֵלֵ֖ךְye.LekhH1980and returnוְיָשֹׁ֣בve.ya.ShoH7725to his houseלְבֵית֑וֹle.vei.ToH1004, so thathe might not make his brothers’אֶחָ֖יו'e.ChavH251heartsלְבַ֥בle.VavH3824meltיִמַּ֛סyi.MasH4549like his heartכִּלְבָבֽוֹ׃kil.va.VoH3824.’

9When the officersהַשֹּׁטְרִ֖יםha.sho.te.RimH7860have finishedכְּכַלֹּ֥תke.kha.LotH3615speakingלְדַבֵּ֣רle.da.BerH1696to the peopleהָעָ֑םha.'AmH5971,they shall appointוּפָֽקְד֛וּu.Fa.ke.DuH6485commandersשָׂרֵ֥יsa.ReiH8269of armiesצְבָא֖וֹתtze.va.'otH6635at the headבְּרֹ֥אשׁbe.RoshH7218of the peopleהָעָֽם׃ סha.'AmH5971.

10“Whenכִּֽי־ki-H3588you approachתִקְרַ֣בtik.RavH7126a cityעִ֔יר'IrH5892to fightלְהִלָּחֵ֖םle.hi.la.ChemH3898againstעָלֶ֑יהָ'a.Lei.haH5921it, you shallofferH7121it termsH7121of peaceלְשָׁלֽוֹם׃le.sha.LomH7965.

11Ifאִם־'im-H518itagreesH6030to makeH6030peaceשָׁל֣וֹםsha.LomH7965with you and opensוּפָתְחָ֖הu.fa.te.ChahH6605to you, then allכָּל־kol-H3605the peopleהָעָ֣םha.'AmH5971who are foundהַנִּמְצָא־ha.nim.tza'-H4672in it shall becomeH1961yourforcedH4522laborלָמַ֖סla.MasH4522and shall serveוַעֲבָדֽוּךָ׃va.'a.va.Du.khaH5647you.

12However, ifוְאִם־ve.'im-H518it does not makeתַשְׁלִים֙tash.LimH7999peaceH7999with you, but makesוְעָשְׂתָ֥הve.'a.se.TahH6213warמִלְחָמָ֑הmil.cha.MahH4421againstH5973you, then you shall besiegeוְצַרְתָּ֖ve.tzar.TaH6696it.

13When the Lordיְהוָ֥הYah.wehH3068your Godאֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ'e.lo.Hei.khaH430givesוּנְתָנָ֛הּu.ne.ta.NahH5414it into your handבְּיָדֶ֑ךָbe.ya.De.khaH3027,you shall strikeוְהִכִּיתָ֥ve.hi.ki.TaH5221allכָּל־kol-H3605themenזְכוּרָ֖הּze.khu.RahH2138in it with the edgeלְפִי־le.fi-H6310of the swordחָֽרֶב׃Cha.revH2719.

14OnlyH7534the womenהַ֠נָּשִׁיםHa.na.shimH802and the childrenוְהַטַּ֨ףve.ha.TafH2945andthe animalsוְהַבְּהֵמָ֜הve.ha.be.he.MahH929and allוְכֹל֩ve.KholH3605that is in the cityבָעִ֛ירva.'IrH5892,allכָּל־kol-H3605its spoilשְׁלָלָ֖הּshe.la.LahH7998,you shall takeH962as bootyH962for yourself; and you shalluseוְאָֽכַלְתָּ֙ve.'a.khal.TaH398the spoilשְׁלַ֣לshe.LalH7998of your enemiesH340whichH834the Lordיְהוָ֥הYah.wehH3068your Godאֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ'e.lo.Hei.khaH430has givenנָתַ֛ןna.TanH5414you.

15Thusכֵּ֤ןkenH3651you shall doתַּעֲשֶׂה֙ta.'a.SehH6213to allלְכָל־le.kholH3605the citiesהֶ֣עָרִ֔יםhe.'a.RimH5892that are veryמְאֹ֑דme.'OdH3966farהָרְחֹקֹ֥תha.re.cho.KotH7350from you, whichאֲשֶׁ֛ר'a.SherH834are not of the citiesמֵעָרֵ֥יme.'a.ReiH5892of theseהָאֵ֖לֶּהha.'E.lehH428nationsהַגּֽוֹיִם־ha.go.yim-H1471nearbyH2008.

16OnlyH7534in the citiesמֵעָרֵ֤יme.'a.ReiH5892of theseהָאֵ֔לֶּהha.'E.lehH428peoplesהָֽעַמִּים֙ha.'a.MimH5971that the Lordיְהוָ֣הYah.wehH3068your Godאֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ'e.lo.Hei.khaH430is givingנֹתֵ֥ןno.TenH5414you as an inheritanceנַחֲלָ֑הna.cha.LahH5159,you shall not leaveH2421aliveH2421anythingכָּל־kol-H3605that breathesנְשָׁמָֽה׃ne.sha.MahH5397.

17But you shallutterlyהַחֲרֵ֣םha.cha.RemH2763destroyתַּחֲרִימֵ֗םta.cha.ri.MemH2763them, the Hittiteהַחִתִּ֤יha.chi.TiH2850and the Amoriteוְהָאֱמֹרִי֙ve.ha.'e.mo.RiH567,the Canaaniteהַכְּנַעֲנִ֣יha.ke.na.'a.NiH3669and the Perizziteוְהַפְּרִזִּ֔יve.hap.pe.ri.ZiH6522,the Hiviteהַחִוִּ֖יha.chi.ViH2340and the Jebusiteוְהַיְבוּסִ֑יve.hay.vu.SiH2983,as the Lordיְהוָ֥הYah.wehH3068your Godאֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃'e.lo.Hei.khaH430has commandedצִוְּךָ֖tzi.ve.KhaH6680you,

18soלְמַ֗עַןle.Ma.'anH4616that they may not teachיְלַמְּד֤וּye.la.me.DuH3925you to doלַעֲשׂ֔וֹתla.'a.SotH6213according to allכְּכֹל֙ke.KholH3605their detestableH8441thingsH8441whichH834they have doneעָשׂ֖וּ'a.SuH6213for their godsלֵֽאלֹהֵיהֶ֑םle.lo.hei.HemH430, so that you wouldsinוַחֲטָאתֶ֖םva.cha.ta.TemH2398against the Lordלַיהוָ֥הla.Yah.wehH3068your Godאֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃ ס'e.lo.hei.KhemH430.

19“WhenH3588you besiegeתָצ֣וּרta.TzurH6696a cityעִיר֩'irH5892a longרַבִּ֜יםra.BimH7227timeיָמִ֨יםya.MimH3117,to makeH3898warH3898againstעָלֶ֣יהָ'a.Lei.haH5921it in order to captureלְתָפְשָׂ֗הּle.ta.fe.SahH8610it, you shall not destroyתַשְׁחִ֤יתtash.ChitH7843its treesעֵצָהּ֙'e.TzahH6086by swingingלִנְדֹּ֤חַlin.Do.achH5080an axeגַּרְזֶ֔ןgar.ZenH1631againstעָלָיו֙'a.LavH5921them; for you may eatתֹאכֵ֔לto.KhelH398from them, and you shall not cutתִכְרֹ֑תtikh.RotH3772them downH3772.For is the treeעֵ֣ץ'etzH6086of the fieldהַשָּׂדֶ֔הha.sa.DehH7704a manהָֽאָדָם֙ha.'a.DamH120, that it shouldbe besiegedבַּמָּצֽוֹר׃ba.ma.TzorH4692by you?

20OnlyH7534the treesעֵ֣ץ'etzH6086whichH834you knowתֵּדַ֗עte.Da'H3045are not fruitמַאֲכָל֙ma.'a.KhalH3978treesעֵ֤ץ'etzH6086you shall destroyתַשְׁחִ֖יתtash.ChitH7843and cutוְכָרָ֑תָּve.kha.Ra.taH3772downH3772,that you may constructוּבָנִ֣יתָu.va.Ni.taH1129siegeworksמָצ֗וֹרma.TzorH4692againstעַל־'al-H5921the cityהָעִיר֙ha.'IrH5892that is makingעֹשָׂ֧ה'o.SahH6213warמִלְחָמָ֖הmil.cha.MahH4421with you untilעַ֥ד'adH5704it fallsרִדְתָּֽהּ׃ פrid.TahH3381.

Laws of Warfare

Commentaries on Deuteronomy 20